The 2013 SuperClásico finale favored Chivas USA’s cross-hall rival the LA Galaxy by five goals, and afterwards players wanted no part of any excuses. Goalkeeper and captain Dan Kennedy mentioned after that the group was still recouping from the unexpected performance.

“This one hurts badly,” Kennedy said. “We are a little shell-shocked about it, but the season goes on. We have two more games to play for and I imagine there will be some table positioning up on the table for us and for other teams, so we need to continue to understand there’s a lot to play for.”

When told that Head Coach Jose Luis Real stated how the club could not close out the season in what he called the worst performance since his arrival in June, Kennedy responded without hesitation saying, “We are not going to. We have two more games. We actually have a significant amount of time off league play and it will give us plenty of time to regroup, recover and prepare.”

Center back Carlos Bocanegra, who started his first SuperClásico, echoed the sentiments and likewise did not want to bring up excuses, calling the performance unacceptable.

“We have to do better,” Bocanegra said. “This is unacceptable for each and every individual on the field. We either have to make some changes or we have to pull our heads out and do a lot better because this is unacceptable.

“Obviously everybody is [angry] today. That was an embarrassment to lose 5-0 like that. We have to look at ourselves and each and every one of us. We all have to be held accountable and we all have to do better.”

Serving as the home side, LA took the advantage beginning in the sixth minute and went on to add three more scores in the first half. Playing from behind, the Rojiblancos tried to generate chances in the attacking third, but could not find enough promising looks.

Up next for the Red-and-White is a pair of Western Conference clashes to wrap up the 2013 campaign. The Goats will have two weeks off from League competition to bounce back before hitting the road for their final road match of the season at Real Salt Lake on Oct. 23. Three days later Chivas will host the Portland Timbers in the season finale. Both opponents are in the hunt for the Supporters’ Shield and will surely not enter the contest looking to coast in the final games of the Regular Season heading into MLS Cup.